Bathing suit



June 5, 1923.

J. H. RATHMAN BATHING SUIT Filed Oct. 19, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES A TTORNEYS.

June 5,1923. 1,4575% J. H. RATHMAN BATHING SUIT Filed Oct. 19. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Mm;

IN V EN TOR.

WITNESSES Patented June 5, 1923.

UtTE

STATS Tar OFFICE.

BATHING SUIT.

Application filed October 19, 1922.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. RATHMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing Suits,

of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to bathing suits, wherein the same are provided with means formed directly thereon for receiving an air tube or other floatable means whereby the wearer of the suit is prevented from drowning while in bathing, and further serving as a means to assist the bather in practicing the art of swimming.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a bathing suit where-in the same has incorporated therewith either a single pocket member or a plurality of flap members for effectively retaining around the body of the wearer, a pneumatic tube or other floating means for purposes above described.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a rear elevational View of a bathing suit constructed in accordance with the present invention, a portion of the tube receiving pocket being broken away and shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the suit shown in Figure 1,

a portion of the device being also shown in section.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the suit shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a combined cross sectional and perspective view of a form of air tube used by me in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown abathing suit 1 of any desirable form-having Serial No. 595,631.

stitched or otherwise secured to the waist portion thereof an annularly extending pocket or receptacle 2. This pocket or receptacle 2 is in the form of a relatively large tube and may be constructed of a suitable fabric or the like. Centrally of the rear portion of this tube or receptacle is an enlarged opening 3 provided for the insertion of a pneumatic tube 5.

Having particular reference to Figure 5, this tube is shown as being of a hollow sin gle length of rubber or other material impervious to air and closed at its opposite end portions 6 and 7, the adjacent ends of this tube carrying cloth or leather strap members 8, whereby the ends of the tube are effectively retained together when these said straps are knotted as shown in Figure 1. One of the end portions of the tube 4 has any desirable form of air inlet nipple 9 formed there-on for readily permitting of the filling of the said tube with air.

In the modified form of the invention set forth in Figures 8 and 4:, the bathing suit 1 is shown as being provided upon the rear side thereof with a pair of suitably spaced flap members 10, these flap members adapted to be stitched or otherwise secured to the suit at the upper end portion thereof as at 11. The lower edge of these flap members have a plurality of spaced button-holes 12 adapted for buttoning over similarly spaced buttons 13 secured to the bathing suit. Similarly formed upon the front side of the suit is still another flap member 10, also secured to the bathing suit by a row of stitching 11, and having the usual button connections at its lower edge to the suit.

It will be readily apparent from the description of Figures 3 and 4, that the above described air tube 5 may be conveniently positioned around the waist of the bather to be there retained by the several flap members 10 hereinabove described, and although I have shown and described the means to be retained within the pocket or tube 2 or the flaps 10, as a pneumatic tube, it is nevertheless to be understood that other means may be provided in lieu of this tube for accomplishing similarpurposes, such other means being a series of interconnected cork blocks or the like.

Other minor changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereoi as claimed.

What I claim as new is 2- In combination with a bathing suit, a plurality of flap members secured at their upper edge portion to the said suit and adapted for supporting an air tube or the like around the waist of the wearer, for preventing drowning while in bathing and detachable connections between the opposite ends of the said flap members and the suit for purposes described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN H. RATHMAN. 

